Feed mechanism for duplicating machines



g- 3, 1939- J. E. SCHAEFER v 2,168,364

FEED MECHANISM FOR DUPLICAIING IACHINES Filed Dec. 27,- 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 YZdezzfa): rfokiz fiche/1 22 My a Aug 8, 1939.

J. E. SCHAEFER' FEED MECHANISM FOR DUPLICATING IACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1957 ,2 2W @W M g- 1939- J. E. SCHAEFER- 2,168,364

FEED MECHANISM FOR DUPLICATING IIACHINES FiledDec. 27, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FEED MECHANISM FOR 'DUPLICATING MACHINES John E. Schaefer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to United Autographic Register 00., a corporation of Illinois Application December 27, 1937, Serial No. 181,860

11 Claims.

This invention relates to feed mechanisms for duplicating machines, such as addressograph machines, or the like, and more particularly to mechanisms for advancing continuous-form sta- 5 tionery through said machines and advancing a duplicating strip through said stationery in timed -20 bodiment in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a broken plan view of a standard.

addressograph machine equipped with an attachment embodying the present invention; Fig. 25 2, a broken side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an enlarged fragmentary view of the ratchet mechanism for advancing the stationery step-by-step; Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken sectional view showing the presser rollers for advancing the transfer strip, taken as indicated-at line 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. '7, a fragmentary sectional view, taken 35 as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 1;and Fig. 8, a fragmentary sectional viewof the stationery feed mechanism, taken as indicated at line 8.0f Fig. 1. In the embodiment illustrated, A designates the main frame of an addressograp machine; B;

40 a vertical chute or magazine for holding a series of printing plates; C, a presser arm adapted to press stationery firmly into engagement with an underlying printing plate; D, platen rolls adapted to be reciprocated across the top of the sta- 45 tionery while the latter is in engagement with a printing plate; E, mechanism for drawing strips I of continuous-form stationery over the main frame through impression receiving position; and

F, transfer strip feed mechanism.

50 Addressograph machines have been on the market for many years and are well-known. No invention is claimed in the machine per se. As is well-known in the art, the machine is. equipped with a reciprocating slide mechanism 9 which is 55 operated through suitable linkages and a belt Ill lengths.

nism E, driven by the shaft 21, must advance the 40 from a motor II. The mechanism has a recipiu' eating conveyer for moving printing plates seriatim from the magazine B, beneath the table l2 of the main frame to impression receiving position beneath the presser arm C andthereafter 5 move them into a receiving tray l3. It may be noted, however, that the arm C is pivotally mounted beneath the table l2 and rocks downwardly and upwardly during each operation to make an impression on the underlying strip. 10 The various feed mechanisms of the present invention are driven directly from the presser arm during its oscillations, as will be explained below.

A detachable mounting frame carries the mechanisms of the present invention and comprises a base frame I4 which is adapted to be secured to the table I2 of the main frame of the machine and supports rigid upwardly extending ably secured at and 2| to a fiat cross-bar 22.

Also, a leaf spring presser member 23 is adjustably secured to the cross-bar 22, as indicated at- 24, and is adapted to apply a small amount of 25 friction to stationery drawn thereunder.

The feed mechanism E, which is adjustably secured to the rods I6 and I! by thumb screws 25, is similar to the Louis Jensen feed mechanism for a tabulating machine. shown in a copending application. Thedevice comprises a box-like frame 26 in which is journalled a pair .of sprocket wheel shafts 21 and 28. A pair of endless belt conveyers 29 are mounted on sprocket wheels 30 and are provided with register pins 290 which"are 3 adapted to engage register perforations '3 I provided along the lines of weakening 32 which separate the continuous-form stationery 33 into form It will be understood that the mechastationery one form length beneath the presser arm C during each operation of the machine.

The sprocket wheel shaft 21, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with agear 34 which is in mesh with a gear 35 journalled on a jack shaft 36. As best shown in Fig. 5, the gear 35 has a hubportion 31 provided with a pair of diametrically opposed teeth 38 whichare adapted tobe engaged by a stop-pawl'39 or a locking pawl 40. 'The pawls are journalled on spacing bars 4| which secure the mechanism 0 a supporting arm 42 mounted on oneof' the standards l5. The pawls are'provided with torsion springs 43 which urge the pawls into engagement .with the gear hub.

A driving ring 44 is journalled on the jack shaft 36 and is provided with a pivotally mounted pawl 45 which is urged into engagement with the gear hub 31 by means of a small spring 46 so that when the ring is oscillated, it will engage one of the teeth 38 and drive the gear 35 and its hub 31 counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5. The ring is provided with an outwardly extending finger 4'! which limits its rearward oscillation by engagement with a stop 48 provided on the supporting arm 42. Its forward oscillation is limited by a second outwardly extending finger 49 which is adapted to engage the opposite side of the stop 48. The opposite side of the ring is provided with an inwardly extending finger 50 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is adapted, during its return stroke, to raise the stop pawl 39 from engagement with the tooth 38. However, when the ring is rotated counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, after the pawl 39 has cleared the nearest tooth 38, it will be permitted to drop down and engage the front face of the opposite tooth when its completes its 180 of travel. At this point, the locking pawl 40 will drop behind the opposite or rear edge of the tooth and lock the gear and feed mechanism E against moving rearwardly.

The ring E has a deep annular groove 5| which receives an operating chain 52 which has one end secured to the ring, as indicated at 53, and the other end connected to a rock arm 54, as indicated at 55. The rock arm 54 is pivotally mounted on one of the standards I5, as indicated at 56 and its lower end portion is connected to the presser arm C by means of a pitman 51. As best shown in Fig. 4, a strong torsion spring 58 is provided on the shaft 36 to urge the driving ring 44 back into its starting position shown in Fig. 5.

An important feature of the present invention is the mechanism for feeding a transfer strip between the continuous-form stationery strips 33 so that a duplicate record may be made simultaneously and it will not be necessary to provide carbon or transfer strips which are co-extensive with the stationery strips 33.

It is preferred to arrange the carbon feed mechanism oblique to the path of the travel of the stationery. The reason for this is to use more of the cross area of the transfer strip and make the wear substantially uniform in its travel across the printing plate. As will be readily understood, if the carbon is advanced step-by-step across the printing plate in the line of its inscription, the fresh carbon will make a good print at one edge portion andwill be exhausted and caused to make a poor impression at the opposite edge. By feeding a carbon strip obliquely practical tests show that although the carbon is only advanced about one-sixteenth of an inch during each operation, a uniformly good impression is made throughout the length of the legend on the printing plate.

As shown in Fig. 1, a roll of transfer material 59 is supported on brackets 60 near one side of the frame I4 and a transfer strip 6| extends laterally between the str ps 33 to the transfer strip feed mechanism F. A biased fabric guard 62 is folded over an anchoring bar 63 and secured thereto so as to have two fabric flaps extending rearwardly in the direction 'of travel, between the strips 33 to a position slightly overlapping'both sides of the marginal front edge portion of the transfer strip 6|. The rear edge of the flaps of the guard are cut on a bias so as to be substantially parallel to the front edge of the transfer strip. The guard protects the carbon strip from being torn by ragged edges sometimes found at the line of weakening and register perforations of the advancing stationery. It also separates the continuous-form strips slightly and reduces a tendency of the strips to be pulled out of alignment by friction.

The transfer strip mechanism F has a pair of small upwardly extending standards 64 in which are journalled presser rolls 65 and 66. As shown in Fig. 7, the roll 65 is yieldingly urged inwardly by a compression spring 61 so as to apply yielding pressure between the presser rolls. A finger lever 156 is journalled on the shaft 66'and has a cam face 69 adapted to engage the shaft 65 and separate the rolls to facilitate threading the front end of the transfer strip into the bite of the rolls. A cover member 10 is pivotally mounted on the outer edge portions of the standard 64, as indicated at H. A leaf spring 12 yieldingly holds the parts together. The cover is provided with an idler roller 13 which is pressed down lightly against the journalled presser roll 66 and serves to direct the end of the transfer strip 6| out of the feed device. The rear end of the cover member forms a tear-off edge 14 upon which the worn out transfer strip may be severed by drawing upwardly, in the well-known manner. As shown in Fig. 7, the shaft 66 is provided with a toothed wheel 15 which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 16 carried by an operating lever 11 having its lower end journalled on the shaft 66. A chain 18 is secured to the upper end of the lever ll by connection 19 and passes around a pulley 86 which is journalled on the frame l4. The other end of the chain 18 is secured to the lower end of the rock arm 54, as indicated at 8|. Thus, it will be understood that during each operation of the presser arm C of the "addressograp machine, the stationery strips will be advanced one form length by the feed mechanism E and the carbon strip will be advanced a short distance by the mechanism F.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination: a frame having a table and mechanism for feeding printing plates seriatim into printing position. thereon; feed means for aligning and advancing continuous-form stationery strips over said table into impression receiving position above the printing plate in printing position; additional feed means for moving transfer material obliquely between said strips over said plate; presser mechanism for pressing said stationery against said plate; and driving means for actuating said mechanisms and feed means intermittently in timed relation.

2. A device as specified in claim 1, in which the strip feed-means comprises belts provided with register pins adapted to engage ,register perforations provided in each form-length of stationery, said belts being of sufficient length to engage at least two, form-lengths at all times simultaneously.

3.'A device as specified in claim 1, in which the feed means comprises a belt equippedwith register pins adapted to engage register perforations provided in each form-length of stationery, and a locking device is provided to lock said belt against movement while the presser mechanism is in engagement with the stationery.-

4. A device as specified in claim 1, in which the feed means comprises belts equipped with register pins adapted to engage register perforations provided in each form-length of stationery, and ratchet and locking means are provided adapted to rotate said belts in but one direction and lock said wheel while the presser mechanism is in engagement with the stationery.

5-. In combination: a printing machine having a table with an opening therein to which printing plates may be fed seriatim; presser mechanism over said opening adapted to press stationery strips into printing engagement with a printing plate positioned in said opening; a stationery feed device disposed above said presser mechanism adapted to draw continuous-form stationery over impression receiving position; and carbon strip feed mechanism adapted to advance carbon strips laterally between said strips intermittently in timed relation to the movement of said printing plates.

6.- In combination with a printing machine adapted to impress automatically a different legend at each operation upon successive lengths of stationery strips fed therethrough: feed mechthe feed mechanism for the transfer strip comprises a pair of presser rolls, and a ratchet mechanism for driving said 'rolls in timed relation to the movement of the stationery feed mechanism.

8. Mechanism as specified in claim 6, in which the feed mechanism for the transfer strip comprises a' pair of presser rolls, cam means for separating said rolls to permit insertion of the strip, a cover for the rolls provided with a tearofl edge, and an idler roll depending from said cover between said rolls.

9. In combination with a printing machine adapted to impress automatically a different legend at each operation upon successive lengths of stationery strips fed therethrough: feed mechanism for advancing said stationery; and additional feed mechanism for advancing a transfer strip between said stationery strips, and obliquely thereto.

10. A device as specified in claim 9, including apron-guards anchored between the stationery strips and extending rearwardly to guard the front marginal edge of the transfer strip from the advancing stationery.

11. In combination with a printing machine adapted to impress automatically a different legend at each operation upon successive lengths of stationery strips fed therethrough: feed mechanism for advancing said stationery comprising" said ring and extending partially therearound,

and a rock arm driven by the printing machine and connected to the other end 'of said chain.

JOHN E. SCI-IAEFER. 

